Crystal growth and scintillation properties of (Na x Ca1−2 x Lu x − y Nd y )F2 single crystals

Abstract: Na x Ca1−2 x Lu x − y Nd y F2 single crystals were grown from the melt using the precise atmosphere control type Micro-Pulling-Down (μ-PD) method to investigate their potential as a vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) scintillators. The grown crystals were single-phase materials with fluorite-type structure (Fm-3m, Z= 4) as confirmed by XRD. The crystals demonstrated 80–90% transmittance above 200nm wavelength and Nd3+ 5d–4f luminescence (when exited by X-ray) observed around 185nm. The radioluminescence measurements under 5.5MeV α-ray excitation (241Am) demonstrated the light yield of 48 [Ph/5.5MeV-α] and the decay time of 6.4–7.7ns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]